'Monster' rapist James Keaney jailed for 12 years

A security guard has been jailed for 12 years after being convicted of raping and physically abusing two girlfriends.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that 36-year-old James Keaney's brutality began in each case when the women became pregnant.

One of his victims said Keaney went from "nicey-nicey to monster".

Judge Norman Ritchie QC sentenced Keaney to 12 years in prison with four years of supervision after he is released.

Keaney will also be placed on the sex offenders' register.

The judge told Keaney: "I wish to commend the two women. Both women were brave to disclose how you had behaved to each of them over the course of years and who found the courage to testify against you in court."

He added: "They each spoke to a catalogue of abuse, horrific in its terms."

Baby

One of the women, who is aged 37 and cannot be named for legal reasons, was raped when she returned home from hospital with her baby.

Keaney, of Castlemilk in Glasgow, dragged the terrified woman across the kitchen, pinned her to the floor, removed her clothes and had sex with her against her will.

As he raped her, Keaney said: "That's what you get for having a child to someone else."

This woman told prosecutor Paul Kearney that the abuse began early in her pregnancy and was like "a bolt out of the blue".

After that she said that she was abused almost daily and regularly raped by Keaney.

His second victim, aged 32, also suffered the same fate when she became pregnant.

Keaney would prevent her seeing her family. He would take the house keys with him and also put the pram in his car.

Intimidation

He also listened in to her phone calls and she told the court: "If I saw a boy I knew from school I wouldn't even look at him because of the accusations and interrogations that would follow."

Prosecutor Mr Kearney told the court: "This was a clear course of conduct on his part characterised by intimidation and physical and sexual abuse in private behind locked doors."

Keaney was convicted of raping and physically abusing the two women between 1996 and 2005 at addresses in Glasgow.

In evidence, Keaney claimed both women were liars and had made up the allegations to get at him.

When asked by defence QC Garry Allan if his manner went - as one of his victims claimed - from nicey-nicey to monster he replied: "No, I don't conduct myself in that manner at all."

Mr Allan said that Keaney still maintains his innocence and said he was "absolutely terrified" about going to prison.